Futurist Paul Guercio of the Merlin Project returned to share forecasts for world events and people. Using a computer software program, The Merlin Project captures in a graphical form, "the hills and valleys" of a person or places' future based on a starting or birth date. Merlin can predict the time and size of change, but doesn't in the case of stocks, for instance, forecast whether the change will be positive or negative, he explained.

Looking at the world stage, Guercio foresees a problem with North Korea starting now and increasing through 2007. He also handicapped the 2008 US presidential election candidates: On the Democratic side, it looks like Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Mark Warner will not be in contention, according to their charts. John Kerry, John Edwards, and Joseph Biden all looked strong however, and Guercio could even see Kerry and Edwards being on a ticket together again. Al Gore's chart doesn't ratchet up until 2010, which means he probably won't be a serious candidate in '08. On the Republican side, John McCain's trend lines drop off and don't pick up soon enough for the election. Mike Bloomberg, NYC's mayor, could potentially do well as a one-term President.

To view individual's charts, visit Merlin's Timetrak Library. A free 25-page report, 'How The Future Happens,' is also available on the Merlin Project's homepage.

IRS & Debt Collection

First hour guests, attorneys Joshua B. Swigart & Robert L. Hyde (website) reported on the IRS' plan to use private collection agencies to retrieve outstanding debts. Such agencies are known for verbally abusing debtors as part of their regular course of action, said Hyde. The plan is not quite a done deal yet, and if there is momentum against it, it could still be overturned, Swigart commented.